Cheltenham 4 Northampton 3

Last updated : 08 September 2003 By Footymad Previewer

Cheltenham Town claimed all three points from a crazy match at Whaddon Road.

The Robins trailed 2-0 and 3-1 but two late, late goals gave them a third win in a row.

Bobby Gould's team attacked with such tenacity that they wore down a Northampton side that appeared perfectly comfortable during the first half. But their defensive frailties were there once again and an amazing sequence of results have now produced 30 goals in their six matches to date.

In truth, however, the ebb and flow of the game was dictated for long periods by an eccentric performance by the referee and his two assistants.

The home side began the game well enough but the turning point arrived after 23 minutes when French midfielder Bertrand Cozic was booked for a foul 30 yards from the Cheltenham goal. Paul Harsley lofted the free-kick into the area and Ian Sampson headed it high into the air.

Cheltenham goalkeeper Shane Higgs came and appeared to catch the ball but visiting striker Lawrie Dudfield arrived to head it, seemingly out of his hands, over the line. Even the Northampton players paused for a moment in expectation of a whistle, but none came and the goal was given.

The second goal arrived on 32 minutes when Martin Smith won the ball in a midfield challenge and slipped a pass through for Dudfield. The striker accepted his second chance, racing away and planting a cool finish past Higgs.

Once again the Cheltenham players were appealing for a foul in the lead up to the goal with the crowd baying at the officials.

Veteran striker Bob Taylor pulled a goal back on 56 minutes with a great finish after Cozic had found him with a header, but Smith restored the two-goal advantage from the spot after Cozic had brought him down.

Kayode Odejayi should have pulled a goal back with a header that went wide but the Cheltenham recovery began in the 76th minute when substitute Richard Forsyth scored from the spot after Taylor had been fouled.

Then, in the 90th minute Jamie Victory was tripped in the box and Forsyth scored again from a twice taken kick, the experienced midfielder placing the ball to the goalkeeper's right on each occasion.

With three minutes of injury time gone, Michael Duff played the ball into the box, two Northampton defenders made an awful mess of the clearance and Martin Devaney smashed the loose ball beyond goalkeeper Glyn Thompson to complete a raucous evening's entertainment.